Hot box indicator



R. M. BILLMAN ET AL HOT BOX INDICATOR Aug. 2, 1949.

Filed May 21, 1948 Fig;/.

R/bhard M. Bill/Han Harold l-T Ho/chk/ss INVENTORS.

WWW 5M? Patented Aug. 2, 1949 STATES OFFICE HOT BOX INDICATOR Richard Billman, Waynesburg, ,and Hafold F. HOtChkiS S, Ea'st Sparta, Ohio Ailpliciltiflli May 21, 1948,- Serial N0. 28,316 6 Claims. (01. ire-114.5)

This invention relates generally to indicating means, and more particularly to a hot box indicator for use with bearings on axles of railway cars.

A primary object of this invention is to provide means whereby the overheating of a box journal in a railway car and the like will be clearly indicated to an inspector, the indicating means having been once actuated remaining in position to indicate the fact that the bearing is overheated or has been overheated, thus avoiding the riskresulting from inspection of journals by feeling the journal with the fingers, and certain other methods, inasmuch as these other methods do not indicate the fact that a hot box had existed after suflicient time has elapsed to allow the journal to cool, as when a train is stopped for a considerable period of time before inspection can be made.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hot box indicating means in which the fusible element is manually deformable So that a replacement element may be easily secured in operative position after the heated journal has been properly lubricated or other repair made.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a hot box indicating means which is particularly adapted for use with a journal box having a recess in the upper part thereof, a portion of the indicator being normally disposed within this recess so that indicia thereon, preferably reversed and inverted, is somewhat obscured from the vision of an inspector, while the same portion with the indicia disposed properly for easy reading becomes easily discernible when the indicator is in a second position after fusion of the fusible link incorporated with the device.

And a last object to be mentioned specifically is to provide a device of the character mentioned above which will be relatively inexpensive and practicable to manufacture, which is simple and convenient to use, which will greatly increase the safety with which rolling stock may be operated, and which 7 will give generally efficient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in the specification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a material part of this application, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary end elevational view of a journal box with the journal box lid removed, and with this invention operatively incorporated therewith;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on a plane through the line 2-4 in Figure 1, it being 2 noted that in both Figure 1 and Figure 2, certain structure including wedge retainers which are ordinarily provided to lock the brasses in place within the journal box;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on a plane through the line 3-3 in Figure 1, but including representation in section of a pair of the above mentioned wedge retaining members; and

Figure 4 is a three dimensional view of the indicator; the same being disposed in what is hereinafter referred to as the second position, so that an oifset portion is disclosed to allow indicia thereon to be easily read.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the environments wherewith this invention is adapted to be used will include a railway car axle journal box having a lid, not illustrated, hinged on trunnions l2 on the upper and outer edge of the box and having a chamber I4 to receive lubricant and/or waste, whereby journal portions [6 of an axle l8 are lubricated within brasses 20, the latter members being ordinarily held in place by the wedge-shaped retaining members 22, all these parts being of conventional design. It will be understood that slight modifications in the designof the parts mentioned immediately above will not effect the nature of the invention described in this application.

A feature of certain types of journal boxes, while conventionally provided may however be considered as a feature with which this invention is combined, and; therefore, constituting a part of this invention. This feature is the provision of a recess 24, indicated by the arrow in Figure 1 between depending flange portions 26 in these certaintypes of journal boxes. The indicator, general-1y represented by the numeral 23 is pivoted as at 30 on the upper brass 20, that is, on the outer end of this brass and so that the upper end portion 32 the indicator is disposed within the recess 2 l. This offset portion 32 is provided with indicia which are inverted and reversed. when the indicator is in a second position, as subsequently described, these indicia become legible and preferably spell a word such as hot A pin 34 is rigidly securable to the upper brass 20, either by welding as indicated at 33, or by any other suitable means, it being preferred that the end 38 of the pin will extend int-o the brass 20 so that thermal conductivity between the brass and the pin will be at amaximum, and it is obviciusthat the 34 may be threadedly associated was the brassif desired. The pivot por ti-on 30 of the pin 34 includes two spaced disks 40 which, in a simple form of this invention, will be welded or brazed in place on the pin 34, with the pivoted end of the indicator '28 between the disks and mounted for free swinging movement, except as limited by a stop 42 extending transversely of the disks 40, and in a simple embodiment of this invention, integrated therewith. It will be clear that the stop 42 prevents rotation of the indicator 28 in one direction from its normal position as indicated in Figure 1.

The indicator is prevented from rotation in the opposite direction, under normal temperature conditions, by the fusible link 44, this link being manually deformable for terminal engagement thereof with a bracket 48 provided on a side of the pin 34 between the brass 29 and the innermost of the disks 5B, the other end 48 0f the link being insertable through one of the apertures 50 in a portion of the indicator 28 adjacent the already mentioned portion 32 thereof.

The operation of this invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the drawings and with the recitation of oblects sought to be achieved by this invention. In, recapitulation, it may be added that the indicator will normally be disposed in the position indicated in Figure 1 in fulllines. Upon the overheating of the journal I6, and brasses 29 the link 44 will be raised above its fusion temperature. Gravity acting upon the offset portion 32 will cause the indicator to pivot about its pivotal connection 39 on the pin 34, the stop 42 preventing the indicator from pivoting in the opposite direction, and thus preventing the indicator from becoming lodged against structure such as that indicated at 25 in Figure 1. When the indicator has pivoted into the second position, indicated in dash lines in Figure 1, the indicia thereon becomes clearly readable and an inspector can know at a glance that the journal box concerned is either overheated or has been overheated, merely by raising the lid of the journal box which is secured on the trunnions I2. After correction has been made, either by addition of lubricant or otherwise, a replacement link 44 will be placed in operative position with its ends bent around the bracket 46 and around the adjacent portion of the indicator, after passing the last mentioned end through one of the apertures 50. This operation can be accomplished manually, thus greatly facilitating the work of ordinary main tenance in connection with rolling stock, when mere addition of lubricant is all that is required.

Obviously many minor variations may be made in the details of construction and proportionment of the various elements of this invention without departure from the spirit and scope thereof, which scope should be determined only in accordance with the proper interpretation of the terminology used in the subjoined claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A hot box indicating means for use with bearings for axles in railway cars, comprising a pin secured to the bearing and extending from an outer end thereof, an indicator pivoted on said pin, and a fusible link connected to and between said indicator and said pin normally retaining said indicator in substantially upright position, said indicator pivoting under the force of gravity into a second position upon fusion of the link.

2. A hot box indicating means for use with bearings for axles in railway cars, comprising a pin secured to the bearing and extending from an outer end thereof, an indicator pivoted on said pin, and a fusible link connected to and between said indicator and said pin normally retaining said indicator in substantially upright position, said indicator pivoting under the force of gravity into a second position upon fusion of the link, said indicator having a portion with reversed and inverted indicia thereon above said pin, said portion in said second position of the indicator being disposed for easy visibility.

3. A hot box indicating means for use with bearings for axles in railway cars, comprising a pin secured to the bearing and extending from an outer end thereof, an indicator pivoted on said pin, and a fusible link connected to and between said indicator and said pin normally retaining said indicator in substantially upright position, said indicator pivoting under the force of gravity into a second position upon fusion of the link, said indicator having a portion with reversed and inverted indicia thereon above said pin, said portion in said second position of the indicator being disposed for easy visibility, said portion being offset from the longitudinal axis of the indicator and comprising biasing weight means to assure the pivotal movement of the indicator in one direction upon said fusion.

4. The combination of a device according to claim 3 with a journal box having a recess in an upper part thereof, said portion of the indicator being normally disposed within said recess.

5. A hot box indicating means for use with bearings for axles in railway cars, comprising a pin secured to the bearing and extending from an outer end thereof, an indicator pivoted on said pin, and a fusible link connected to and between said indicator and said pin normally retaining said indicator in substantially upright position, said indicator pivoting under the force of gravity into a second position upon fusion of the link, said pin having a bracket on a side thereof, said indicator having aperture therein, and said link being manually deformable to facilitate terminal engagement thereof on said bracket and in said aperture.

6. The combination of a device according to claim 3 with a journal box having a recess in an upper part thereof, said portion of the indicator being normally disposed within said recess, and stop means to prevent the indicator from moving in the opposite direction.

RICHARD M. BILLMAN. HAROLD F. HOTCHKISS.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,443,786 Dolph Jan. 30, 1923 1,451,044 Leonard Apr. 10, 1923 1,496,194 Ziegler June 3, 1924 1,919,693 Faus July 25, 1933 1,949,856 Blakeslee Mar. 6, 1934 2,363,711 Walsh Nov. 28, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 368,898 Germany Feb. 12, 1923 

